The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-16
PROHIBITION RALLY.
First Open Air Meeting In the Heart
OF the City.
The Rev. n. A. Jones' and Gen. 9: r.
n. Turner Address an Audience
OF 400 Peo pie ON the Bluff.

~" N'ob DcibB piooon. Aho pV"hu
vas occu pied nv the Rev. II. a, Jones,
pastor of the First Cumberland Pres
Dyterisn church, and that gentleman
addressed the crowd on the eubject OF
The adoption OF the prohibition amend
ment to the State Constitution. He
made very strong appeal to his
hearers especially to the white work
lpgmen and the colored men, to vote
In favor OF the amendment and
suppress the terrible whisky traffic
that was dragging down to ruin so
many families, 30 many wives and
children. He did not think that per.
soDal liberty was involved in the
question. 1t was frightful evil they
desired TO suppress, and he gave mum.
erous Incidents coming under his own
supervision, showing the inhumanity
and ciminality Of the traffic in
whisky.
The Rev. Mr.. Jones made an earnest
and sensible talk In favor Of his side
Of the question, and closed with an
appeal TO every man present to 20 to
the polls on election day and vote the
prohibition ticket. Before leaving the
front Of the stand he asked II Gen. G
p. M. Turner was present, and II so,
he requested that gentleman to come
upon the stand.
GEN. TURNER
had been walking up and down on the
grass inside the custom house fence
for some time, and when calls bad
been made for him by the crowd he
climbed the fence and made his way
to the stand, and was introduced by
the Rev. Mr.. Jones ss "the great tenn.
perapce reformer." This created
queite laugh among the crowd, in
which Gen. Turner could not help but
Join. The General was 10 good form,
but evidently in bad voice. as be was
suffering from cold. He said he
had hoped to hear that night from
Judge I. w. Brown, but that gentle.
man was not present. As for himself,
he was in favor OF any movement
which would prevent the danger Of in.
toxicsnts. He was born and bred in
the South, and like others 90 born and
bred had had too much "pe monal
liberty" and he often found himself
wandering in the fields where the
thorns grew. When In this condition
he often contemplated himself, and
became 80 disgusted that he felt iike {
dog with q tin can tied TO II,
tail. Whenever be was In possession
OF his personal liberty" he never
failed TO make an sss Of himself. HI
had read Frank Bonds speech sgairs
the prohibition amendment, and 4
was the best he had read on that side
OF the question, and II was all abou
personal liberty. Personal liberty
was only new name for getiinR blint
drunk and running your family of
the place, Is be (Turnsi) had don,
many q time. The general at thiI
point created much amusement b,
giving life like and most naturs
representation Of q drunken man be
fore the Police Court. II, said be, q
1t 10 claimed, prohibition does no
prohibit, what are the anti. prohibi
tionists kicking about; but the fac
IVES II did prohibit, except 20 to thosi
Who could afford 70 send Oh 20 an
other stase s.a buy Jos Of whisky
The city was full Of "sids" who 70
drunk almost every night. Thes,
boys visited the gilded palaces OF sin
the night taloone, with their alluripl
pictures, their gilded signs Il "Sou
Mash on Toast" "0ld Bourbon" etc
II is shame to let boys 20 to tn,
devil in this way. That nigh
he had met three Of them, th,
oldes; not over fifteen year
OF age, and all quite drunk
The cocutry boy who comes 10 III
city 10 make his fortune 10 allured b,
bad companions 10 these whisky dem
and advances rapidly from soda waite
TO whisky punch, then 10 the station
house; he robs his employer, an,
ehen comes the jail and psnitentiary
During his life he had helped TO cav
many Of such boys from perdition. II
had no personal war 10 make on liquo
sellers; the Law allowed the sale Q
liquor and they had q right to sell Il
bat he wanted the law changed. 8
long 40 saloons are open, jus
90 long will the youth Of tn
land fall by the wAyside. III,
had the same weakness that othe
men had, q Weakness for drink, lik
many others. The greatest men Z
tie land, the most brilliant men {
Tennessee, bad q like feeling an
couldn't resist the temptation 10 driu
and get drunk. /, was said that th
prohibiiionists constituted but a sma
crowd. OF the nine hundred million {
Inhabitants on earth there were BIZ
two hundred millions who believe
In Christ and Christianity. A sma
crowd. The devil has always the 81
crowd, bat he [ rurner) would like /
get out Of ths devils crowd and 70
among good people, aid then he coul
halo, "shoo hy" at the deyi
He had known hundreds OF men will
their weeks wsgcs In their pocket
start Tor home 10 their wives aud bs
bies on Saturday night, walk int
the spider web FALCON, get DRUM
spend oil the money In treating, the
look around for some one from whor
70 borrow O quarter 10 take home :
the iamlly. The general told sewers
pathe,ic stories OF ruined aud starye
families Of workingmen, disho<or an
and death being brought abou
by drink. Hs was for reno,
ing the Influences that max
devils out OF angels an
dogs out Of men. The General gave
humorous account OF his famous low
dunk Of some years ago, shen n
partook too freely Of rum and honey
and raised Cain generally, and Their
branching of, declared that he ha
quit drinking liquor for ever, and tbs
since he had quit he hal gotten we
OF he rheumatism. Alter an amusin
rambling talk for IA hour the q snera
olos, d, asking his hearers 10 vote n
the amendment and reminding ther
that another meeting would be he
on the blua, at the same place, nes
Saturday. evening. The crowd the
AtanaKa.I